Emma Shephard

I started as a student at Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies (UCB) back in 2000. During my studies at UCB, I obtained my NVQ's 1, 2 & 3 in food preparation and cooking, HND in Culinary Arts Management, and completed a top up year to turn my HND into a BA degree in Culinary Arts Management.

When I started back in 2000, my lecturers really inspired me during my learning, to the point that I knew at the age of 16 I wanted to become a chef lecturer one day! My lecturers advised me to complete all the courses that were available to me at the time, then go and gain experience within the catering and hospitality industry.

I did exactly this - I have worked in various rosette restaurants and hotels, luxury health spa's and more recently (due to family commitments) worked for an independent West Midlands based Contract Catering Company, where I had various roles as Head Chef and Catering Manager throughout different contracts within the Midlands area.

I started as a Professional Cookery Level 2 Chef lecturer in January 2022 - achieving my career dream! I have now been given the fantastic opportunity to teach on the Higher Education (degree programme) in Culinary Arts Management.

I say to all prospective new students, I think it speaks volumes about UCB, the fact that I am a past student myself, and have strived for so long to become a member of staff here - from day one as a lecturer in my new role "I feel like I have come home!"

I started teaching at UCB on the Level 2 Professional Cookery programme, and have since moved to Higher Education within the Culinary Arts Management team.